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Florida abortion ballot initiative hits threshold for state  Supreme Court review

The group needs more than 800,000 signatures by February to get it in front of voters in 2024.

News

Citing issues with tenure, loss of DEI, Florida faculty members want out

Nearly half of Florida respondents said they planned to find jobs in other states within the year.

Latin tech accelerator seeks Tampa Bay talent

Tampa Bay's Latino and Hispanic population has boomed in the last decade along with the area's tech industry.

Business

Bite club: St. Petersburg's new Azúcar Cuban Café

The menu offers breakfast and lunch, along with an array of desserts and coffee.

Food and Drink

Florida businesses face scam risk in pandemic tax credit program

Filing for the ERC is an exhaustive process, despite what some scammers say.

The Internal Revenue Service recently <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="announced" data-vars-click-url="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/to-protect-taxpayers-from-scams-irs-orders-immediate-stop-to-new-employee-retention-credit-processing-amid-surge-of-questionable-claims-concerns-from-tax-pros" data-vars-content-id="be03943c-22ea-4608-9670-5880f64f6d0b" data-vars-headline="Florida businesses face scam risk in pandemic tax credit program" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/to-protect-taxpayers-from-scams-irs-orders-immediate-stop-to-new-employee-retention-credit-processing-amid-surge-of-questionable-claims-concerns-from-tax-pros" target="_blank">announced</a> it would pump the brakes on the Employee Retention Credit which was designed to help businesses stay afloat during the pandemic.Why it matters: Experts hope it will ward off scammers who have used aggressive marketing tactics to make money off businesses that don&#x27;t meet the program&#x27;s narrow criteria.

Animated illustration of a US Treasury refund check in an envelope fading away and disappearing

Valhalla Resale, Tampa Bay clothing swaps are fresh takes on secondhand shopping trend

if everyone bypassed new clothing for one second hand item, it would cut carbon emissions as much as taking 76 million cars off the road for a day.

Buying new clothes? That&#x27;s so last season.Driving the news: Buying and trading used clothing — whether at <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="thrift stores" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2021/10/04/rise-of-thrift-stores-secondhand-fashion-gen-z" data-vars-content-id="dc3c1a63-2fa6-4a8c-879b-8375b81e49f2" data-vars-headline="Valhalla Resale, Tampa Bay clothing swaps are fresh takes on secondhand shopping trend" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2021/10/04/rise-of-thrift-stores-secondhand-fashion-gen-z" target="_self">thrift stores</a>, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="clothing swaps" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/06/19/clothing-swaps-united-states" data-vars-content-id="dc3c1a63-2fa6-4a8c-879b-8375b81e49f2" data-vars-headline="Valhalla Resale, Tampa Bay clothing swaps are fresh takes on secondhand shopping trend" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/06/19/clothing-swaps-united-states" target="_self">clothing swaps</a> or online via sites such as <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Depop" data-vars-click-url="https://www.depop.com/" data-vars-content-id="dc3c1a63-2fa6-4a8c-879b-8375b81e49f2" data-vars-headline="Valhalla Resale, Tampa Bay clothing swaps are fresh takes on secondhand shopping trend" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.depop.com/" target="_blank">Depop</a> or <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Poshmark" data-vars-click-url="https://poshmark.com/" data-vars-content-id="dc3c1a63-2fa6-4a8c-879b-8375b81e49f2" data-vars-headline="Valhalla Resale, Tampa Bay clothing swaps are fresh takes on secondhand shopping trend" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://poshmark.com/" target="_blank">Poshmark</a> — is on the rise, and it&#x27;s not slowing down anytime soon.

Illustration of a clothes hanger resembling a recycling icon

How working from home has impacted Tampa Bay

More than 21% of Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater metro area employees were working from home as of 2022.

A good chunk of Tampa Bay is working from home, and that could change the way our area looks.Why it matters: Workers in America&#x27;s biggest, most competitive cities aren&#x27;t giving up the flexibility and savings — in both time and gas money — of working from home, Axios&#x27; Sam Baker and Simran Parwani report.

Illustration of an office cubicle with a roof like a house.

Latino-led companies can soon be part of a local effort to shake up the tech industry.What&#x27;s happening: Applications are open for the Tampa Bay Wave and Tampa Bay Latin Chamber of Commerce&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="LatinTech Accelerator" data-vars-click-url="https://www.tampabaywave.org/latin-tech/" data-vars-content-id="24f5a9ca-7bcb-41ae-b02d-ba20aa6b29b3" data-vars-headline="Latin tech accelerator seeks Tampa Bay talent" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.tampabaywave.org/latin-tech/" target="_blank">LatinTech Accelerator</a>, and are due on October 6.<ul><li>The program promises things like executive coaching and preparation for investor meetings. It all leads up to a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="pitch night" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2021/09/03/tampa-bay-wave-techdiversity-women-led-startups" data-vars-content-id="24f5a9ca-7bcb-41ae-b02d-ba20aa6b29b3" data-vars-headline="Latin tech accelerator seeks Tampa Bay talent" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2021/09/03/tampa-bay-wave-techdiversity-women-led-startups" target="_self">pitch night</a>, where founders present their innovations to national and international investors, community leaders and media.</li></ul>

Illustration of a light bulb with a filament in the shape of Central and South America.

Tampa hosts women executives from NASA, eBay, Microsoft for leadership summit

It's the second annual conference for Women on Their Way, a leadership development program from the St.Pete-based McGuckin Group.

Powerful women from around the world will gather in Tampa on Thursday, hoping to bring others into their ranks.What&#x27;s happening: Women in leadership roles at Microsoft, NASA, eBay, L&#x27;Oréal, LabCorp and Mayo Clinic are among the panelists and speakers at the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Women on Their Way (WOTW) Summit" data-vars-click-url="https://www.wotwjourney.com/wotw-summit&#x27;" data-vars-content-id="108c2523-3298-4ce5-9509-8aa616679cde" data-vars-headline="Tampa hosts women executives from NASA, eBay, Microsoft for leadership summit" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.wotwjourney.com/wotw-summit&#x27;" target="_blank">Women on Their Way (WOTW) Summit</a>.

Illustration of only queen chess pieces lined up. 

Sarasota County's income boom caused by pandemic-related migration

Migration into Sarasota County between 2020 and 2021 caused a $2.2 billion rise in adjusted gross income.

Migration into Sarasota County between 2020 and 2021 caused a $2.2 billion rise in adjusted gross income.<ul><li>The findings come by way of a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="new analysis of tax data" data-vars-click-url="https://eig.org/high-earners-migration/" data-vars-content-id="7c06eb88-7f12-42c0-8744-ff1521571dcf" data-vars-headline="Sarasota County&#x27;s income boom caused by pandemic-related migration" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://eig.org/high-earners-migration/" target="_blank">new analysis of tax data</a> from the Economic Innovation Group, a nonpartisan think tank.</li></ul>Why it matters: Florida doesn&#x27;t have a state income tax. Still, counties across the state depend on residents&#x27; incomes to support the local housing market, retail sales and the tax base.

St. Pete couple's sweet job saves bees and honey

Through their nonprofit, Bee Musketeers, the pair hosts educational events and helps people remove bees who wouldn't be able to afford to pay someone.

When Matt and Allison Davis discovered an infestation of bees in the wall at their job in 2016, the boss wanted to call an exterminator. But the Davises knew that wasn&#x27;t the end-all, bee-all option.<ul><li>With the help of YouTube and some trial and error, the couple removed and rehomed the insects in a new hive.</li></ul>Why it matters: Hives in your home — or work — can be inconvenient, but exterminating them means killing a vital part of our nation&#x27;s food supply. Honeybees and other pollinators fertilize <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="more than 100 of the crops we eat" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/raleigh/2023/07/05/help-the-pollinators-in-your-backyard-north-carolina" data-vars-content-id="907eba96-41e4-4dc7-a1db-750be870ec8e" data-vars-headline="St. Pete couple&#x27;s sweet job saves bees and honey" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/raleigh/2023/07/05/help-the-pollinators-in-your-backyard-north-carolina" target="_self">more than 100 of the crops we eat</a>, Axios&#x27; Zachery Eanes reports.

Tampa Bay's Selby Botanical Gardens gets autism-friendly approval

For the last year, the gardens has been hosting Tranquil Tuesdays at its downtown Sarasota campus.

There are countless lists of places to visit and things to do in Tampa Bay. But there&#x27;s one list Lisa Bunn lives by: Businesses that are designated &quot;Autism Friendly&quot; by the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="CARD" data-vars-click-url="http://card-usf.fmhi.usf.edu/index.html" data-vars-content-id="c8332592-6957-4a85-9ca0-fe55c69603b6" data-vars-headline="Tampa Bay&#x27;s Selby Botanical Gardens gets autism-friendly approval" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="http://card-usf.fmhi.usf.edu/index.html" target="_blank">CARD</a>) at the University of South Florida.Why it matters: For parents like Bunn, who is a member of CARD&#x27;s Constituency Board, going to a place on the list means knowing its staff has the training and resources to accommodate people with autism like her 12-year-old daughter, Elena.

Florida, Tampa Bay see manufacturing job boom

Florida added the third-highest number of manufacturing jobs in the country since 2021.

Florida added the third-highest number of manufacturing jobs in the country since 2021, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.By the numbers: Florida added about 37,000 manufacturing jobs between January 2021 and May 2023, an increase of about 10%. California and Texas were the top two with increases of about 79,000 and 86,000 jobs, respectively.

Wawa plans its first Florida drive-thru for Largo

It's projected to open before the end of the year.

Tampa Bay Wawa lovers can soon get a new taste of their favorite chain.Driving (thru) the news: Wawa is opening its first Florida drive-thru in Largo. City Commissioner Michael Smith <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="announced plans" data-vars-click-url="https://www.facebook.com/LargoMichaelSmith/posts/pfbid0364rmx3bxjc52LQCuWeJ5CDB1HmEYuEq4BSzAUdqgcSDzBEqE3bWwqtySCmm5Tnq1l" data-vars-content-id="e88c8b3d-f4c8-4daf-9bf6-b2a99d3c557b" data-vars-headline="Wawa plans its first Florida drive-thru for Largo" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.facebook.com/LargoMichaelSmith/posts/pfbid0364rmx3bxjc52LQCuWeJ5CDB1HmEYuEq4BSzAUdqgcSDzBEqE3bWwqtySCmm5Tnq1l" target="_blank">announced plans</a> last week for the location to come to 2530 East Bay Drive, replacing a vacant KFC drive-thru.

Business 🏦